Winston was found as a stray and wound up in a shelter. We don't know how it happened, but this beautiful boy had a broken right front leg. We rescued him and had surgery done to fix his leg. His "special need" is that he's got a fair amount of hardware in that leg and will be unable to engage in serious contact sports like agility and flyball. While we think he'd love the running aspect of either, we've never known a chow to take either very seriously, so we aren't too concerned about that. However, it also means that, while he's a great walking and hiking partner, serious running isn't in his future. 

Winston has had some obedience training and is doing well on leash walking (though there's room for improvement) and is even better on sit and other cues.  

He has been going to daycare, where he especially likes the small dogs. He lives with a Chihuahua in his foster home and gets along great with her. He hasn't shown any signs of aggression, but boy is he eager to get to his food when it's put down. He had to be crated for three months after his surgery, and he did guard the food in his crate a little bit. But, when fed in an open space, he does fine. He is fine around other big dogs, but when they get too bouncy or playful, he takes offense and tells them so. So small dogs good, big dogs better avoided. 

He'd do best in an adults-only home and needs to be where someone is home all the time or your neighbors won't mind some barking when you leave. Day care is also a great option for him. So, no apartments or condos, please. A fenced yard is optimal. We will consider other options but would much prefer a secure yard. 

A kibble-only diet didn't suit his digestive system well, so he is on a diet of raw food (Steve's) and supplements. He loves treats. All kinds of treats.

(We are including a photo of Winston with his cone, which he no longer needs, because it shows his striking coloring.)